Bridle-bit



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. P. DEAN.

BRIDLB BIT. No. 374,352. Patented Dec. 6, 1887.

2 sheets-sheet 2. L. P. DEAN.

BRIDLE BIT.

(No Model.) A

Patented Dec. 6 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI F. DEAN, OF NEWV MILFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,352, dated December6, 1887. Application filed February 24, 1887. Serial No. 22*,610. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that'l, LEVI F. DEAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Milford, in the county of Susquehanna, State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bridle-Bits,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaeco panying drawings, and to the lettersof reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to an improvement in bridle-bits for controllinghard-bitted horses, or those having a tendency to push the nose forwardtoo faror curb it in too much, or to toss the head; and, besides, it isan improvement on all ordinary bits; and it consists in a solidmouth-piece flattened on the under side, so that it shall rest easily onthe jaws, and made concave in the center to give more room for thetongue, and provided with a flange near each end, to unite with the headof the mouth-piece in forming a groove for connecting a jaw-barattachment, and to protect the lips of the horse from contact with saidattachment, and has a ring at each end passing through the head of themouth-piece at an angle of about forty-five degrees from the fiat sideof the mouth-piece, to hold the said mouthpiece in a position easy tothe mouth when the head is in its proper position, the loop in the ringbeing arranged at about a right angle from the said fiat surface, forthe purpose of keeping the bit in its proper position in the mouth whenthere is no draft on the drivingreins, and also avoid the need of anose-piece for holding the cheek-pieces of a bridle in their properplace.

It further consists in a jaw-bar or jaw-bars to be attached loosely ateach end of the mouthpiece, and to have arms, loops, and rings toconnect with the checkreins and driving-reins, for the purpose ofassisting to keep the head of ahorse in proper position and the horseunder proper control, all substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In my drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a complete bit as seen inuse. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the jaw-bars as detached from themouth-piece. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the bit without thejaw-bars. Fig. 4 is a partially perspective view of the bit from theupper side as it lies in the mouth. Fig. 5 is the same turned over atright angle from the position seen in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of the bit, being a modification of the view in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is asectional View of a bit on line a: on Fig. 6, looking to the right, withthe flange removed. a

In my construction I have a solid bar, K, for a mouth-piece, having thefiat surface S on the under side near each end, so that it shall resteasily on the jaws when the horses head A B is in proper position, andhaving a curved and flattened part, It, in the center to avoid excessivepressure on the tongue.

The flange L unites with the enlarged head K to form a groove, 1?, forconnecting a jawbar attachment and to keep the lips from con tact withit.

I have a ring, J, at each end of the bar K, made to pass through thehead K at about an angle of forty-five degrees from the fiat side of thebar K, (see Fig. 7,) so that when the horses head is in proper positionit will hold the bar in a position easy to the mouth, having a broadsurface resting upon the tongue and jaws; but when the nose of the horseis thrown forward too far or curbed in too much the mouth will encounterthe narrow surfaces or edges of the bar and not be comfortable, thuscausing him to be inclined to keep his head in proper position.

To assist in holding the head of a horse in proper position, as requiredabove, and more effectually to accomplish the purpose, I pro vide a jawbar or bars, to be attached to the ends of the bar K outside of theflanges L, the notch O resting in the groove P, where it swings. Thisattachment may be made double, as intimated, having the two sections GH, or having either one left off, as will be seen.

The lever-rings D are for connecting with IOO his head in as far as hepleases. And by the use of the rings 0, which are connected with thedriving-reins by an attachment which unites with them back'of the ringsJ some eight or ten inches, more or less, the whole draft of thedrivingreins is thrown on the bar G, pressing it severely against thejaw; but when the head regains a proper position the draft is wholly 011the bar K, and this pressure from bar G is relieved, and atthe same timethe horses mouth does not come in contact with the severe edges of thebar K, and the two together dispose him to keep his head in properposition. Thus it will be seen that these bars G H may be made andattach ed separately or combined, as above named; but in case the bar His dispensed with the levers Q and rings G will be retained, and if onlythe bar H be used the rings 0 may be left off.

Therefore, what I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. The flattened bar K, substantially as set forth, provided with therings J, made to pass through the ends K of the bar K at an angle ofabout forty-five degrees from the flat side S of the bar, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

2. The bar K, in combination with rings J, substantially as set forth,the said rings having the loops I, which are made to stand at 0 about aright angle from the fiat surface S of the bar K, substantially as andfor the purpose named.

3. The bar K, provided with the flange L, uniting with the head K toform a groove, P, 5 adapted to receive the jaw-bar attachment,substantially as specified.

4. The bridle-bit, substantially as shown and described, provided withthe jaw-bar attachment H, having the notches 0, rings D, and 40 LEVI F.DEAN.

Witnesses:

HORACE Hnnnrs, M. MYERs.

